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UFC 242: Khabib Nurmagomedov Calls For #1 Spot on P4P Ranks

After defeating Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 on Saturday, Khabib Nurmagomedov believes he should be placed in the number one position of the promotion’s pound-for-pound ranks.

Nurmagomedov faced Poirier in the headliner of the Abu Dhabi event, and he submitted the lightweight with a third-round, rear-naked-choke. While speaking to the media afterward, the lightweight champion said this (quote via MMA Fighting):

“You know what’s interesting in this sport, even if you’re 28-0, 12-0 in the UFC, you’re one of the biggest stars, you smash everybody, people are going to talk about you ‘have to fight him, you have to fight with him, you have to fight with him’ — give me just respect,” Nurmagomedov said.

“Put me on No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter next week because I think I deserve this. Because I dominate with all my opponents. I’m undefeated. I think I deserve some respect.”

Nurmagomedov was fighting for the first time since last October, when he submitted former champion Conor McGregor at UFC 229.